THOMAS Costello insists he will be Birmingham's answer to Amir Khan and could be in the ring with the Bolton superstar this year.

The Brummie basher, who could become a sparring partner of his stablemate, laughed off suggestions he turned pro too soon as he prepares to make his debut at the NIA alongside Khan next month.

Khan clashes with Michael Gomez in a potentially explosive clash on June 21 while Chelmsley Wood's Costello brings his unbeaten record back home.

With Brummie flyweight Don Broadhurst also on the bill it promises to be a feast of boxing when Frank Warren brings his Khan Roadshow to the Second City.

However, Costello, pictured, aims to grab centre stage after clocking up five straight wins inside a year since joining the paid ranks as an 18-year-old last year.

But confidence isn't a problem for the young talent touted as a potential world champion by Richie Woodhall.

He said: "I am two years younger than Khan but I want to be where he is at 21 - Commonwealth champion and looking at a world title. I am still maturing and am developing nicely but I want people to come and watch Birmingham's new kid on the block.

"I am still young and when I think I have fully matured I will grow into a middleweight. I can't believe people think that I turned over to the professional game too early when I was 18. If you look at all the top fighters like Ricky Hatton and Amir

Khan then they all turned professional in their teens and it hasn't done them any harm has it?"

Khan's matchmaker and current trainer Dean Powell also fixes fights for Costello and there is the prospect of some serious sparring for the 19-year-old.

"I had a good chat with Amir and he remembered me from our days as amateurs," said Costello. "He mentioned the fact that we could spar in the future as did Dean and that would be a great learning experience for me.

"I want to test myself against the best and Amir is the best around at present."

It has been a year of promise for Costello, who has racked up a nap hand of wins including a sensational first round knockout on his debut.

He stopped Deniss Sirjatovs with a sledgehammer punch but has found life with the big boys harder than he first anticipated.

"The pro game suits me a lot more as I want to stand and have a fight whereas there is a lot more tic-tac in the amateurs," he said.

"I probably didn't expect it would be this hard as you really have to get yourself in condition for 12 rounds and some of the journeymen professionals are tough opponents.

"You are going at it full hammer and they will lean on you and absorb your shots. It can be disheartening but I love it and have gone from fighting against young kids to grown men.

"I am determined to reach the top and will do whatever it takes to get there. I don't drink even though a few of my pals who box do. It will catch up with you eventually if you drink as you are wrecking your body and I want to go as far as I can.

"In 12 months' time I would hope to be involved in eight-round fights and having a crack at a Midland Area or British Masters title fight.

"Hopefully, I can come back to the NIA and be top of the bill one day fighting for a world title - that would be a dream."